Sunday, January 04, 2009

Episcopate or Epiphany

There was no music today
in my Gothic church
at least that's what the priest
perceived.

The organist was away
the choir director too
whilst the congregation's
voices were aggrieved.

Yet a dirge I swore
heard in minor keys
as silenced faithful
shuffled feet.

The ancient floors
took up the refrain
and the boards
sang as they creaked.

A fugue for the church
for the liturgy of Christ
as the epiphany
dimly shone.

Precariously perched
on razors of relevance
empty pews
their doxologies alone.

3 comments:

E said...

I love the rhythm and balance in this piece.

..."for if these were silent, even the very stones would cry out"... You found the song despite what some might experience through their own limitations.

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

This is perfectly worded and wonderfully structured. I can just hear those old floorboards starting to praise God in song. They surely have the gospel message ingrained in them.

S.L. Corsua said...

I agree with K. as regards the word choice. 'dirge" and "faithful' and 'shuffled feet' and 'fugue' and 'doxologies' help turn this piece into an atmospheric one. I did feel as if I were there, in that church, on the pew, staring at and straining to hear everything. ;) Cheers.